Venetian blind



June 24, 1947. I P. LIFPERT 2,422,915

VENETIAN BLIND Filed July 31, 1944 f l 27 XZ5 z (M25 I91 27. 1Q

INVEN TOR. B101 .Z/PPMI flrrr- Patented June 24, 1947 UNITED STATE 5 PATENT OFFICE VENETIAN BLIND Paul Lippert, Chicago, Ill. Application July-351, 1944, Serial No. 547,421

9 "Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in Venetian blinds and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointedout-inthe appended claims.

Venetian blinds, as at present eonstructedgenerally include a tilting rail, foot rail and slats which are supported by ladder tapes that are physically attached to the rails as by tacks or the like. Blinds of this kind arequite difficult (to satisfactorily clean when soiled, because they must be first disassembled by removing the physical attachment and then replacing the same after assembly, with frequent misadjustment. and misalignment of the parts: so that the blindnot only hangs improperly, but is difiicult to operate.

To replace certain worn parts or to clean Venetian blinds asnow made, requires skill and the use of tools, neither of which is generally available in the average home wherein such blinds are used. Therefore, large establishments have been built up to remove the blinds as a whole from the home to said establishment where they are cleaned and thereafter returned to the home and rehung or replaced. This entails considerable expense and inconvenience.

One of the objects of the present invention, is to provide a novel arrangement ofqparts. in a Venetian blind, bywhich the blind may bequickly and easily disassembled so that wornor damaged parts may be replaced, or-theblindmay be read ly cleaned 0n the premises and replaced properly without the aid of tools and without the necessity-of skill in this kind of work.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved ladder tape for suchblindswhich requires no physical attachment to the tilting and foot rails of the blind and which will not become displaced after the operating cords have been arranged in position in the blind.

Also, it is an objector the invention to provide a simple and eflicient structure whereby the 0p. crating cord may be readily detached. from and:

reattached to the foot he of the blind without the use of tools.

The above mentioned objects of; the invention, as well as others, together with; the advantages thereof, will more; fullyappear as. the speciflca. tion proceeds.

In, the drawing:

Fig. 1 isa view in elevation era-Venetian blind embody-ingthe preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2-is a vertical sectional view through; a art of the blind as. taken on the line 2-2 of Fig, 1 and on a scale enlarged thereover.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal detail sectional "view through a part of the blind, on substantially the scale of Fig. 2, as taken on the line -3-3 of Fig; 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical sectional View through a part of the blind: shown inFi-g. 2' as taken on the line 4-4 thereof on a further enlarged scale.

Fig. 5. is a perspective View or a certain endless ladder tape embodied in the improved blind construction.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a certain toggle headon one endofthe operating cord.

Fig. 7 isa view similar to Fig. 6 showing a modified construction of toggle head later to be mentioned' in more detail.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive 1 with the bracket I1 is a suitable means i9 operatively connected to the trunnion I5 and whereby a tilting movement may be imparted to; the rail I l in one direction or the other when said means is actuated by a cord 20.

Eachl'adder tape 113:, which best appears in Fig. 5, is made in. the form of an endless p, and comprises frontand rear sides 2 l22 and top and bottom end loops 23 and 24 respectively. The sides of each tape are operatively connected togetheraby means of sla-t supporting rung-like cross pieces 2.5. Said cross pieces arearranged in staggered relation 50 that the alternate ones are disposed along oneedge-of both sides 21 22, and the intermediate ones are disposed along the other edge of said sides and in planes between those of the alternate pieces. Thusa passageway is af forded in the medial'line of each tape for the opcrating cord 2 6. of the blind, later to be mentioned in more detail, and thi passageway is in alignment. with eyeleted openings 23a and 24a respectivelyin the end loopeofthe-tape.

One portion of the operating cord 26 hangs from the bracket l8 as a loop within easy reach forthe -operator and saidbracket includes means in 'which any partof: the cord: loop maybe caught to hold :the ,blind to the desired effective length. That part of :the cord beyond the bracket'forms two portions 7J-211f one for each tape -l;3- and wardly therefrom through openings in line with the associated tapes.

The bottom end extremity of each cord portion 21 is fixed in one end of a metallic sleeve 28, which sleeve carries a suitable piece or member which may be swung from a position parallel with the sleeve, wherein it forms a longitudinal continuation thereof, to a position standing crosswise of the other end of said sleeve. In the form shown in Fig. 6, said other end of the sleeve is longitudinally slit a at 29 to receive a flat piece or bar 30 which is pivoted at a point between its ends to said sleeve as at 3!. In Fig. '7 the sleeve 28 requires no slit 29 [because the piece, which is indicated at 30a, is semitubular so as to fit the outside of said sleeve and to which it is pivoted as at 3| a.

To assemble the blind above described, the endless tapes l3l3 are each slipped onto the associated end of the tilting rail II, when the latter has been removed from its hanger brackets I1 and I8, so that the end loops 23 of each tape passes over the top surface of the tilting rail. The end loops of both tapes are then so positioned on the tilting rail that the opening 23a of each loop registers With an opening Ila in the tilting rail and one of which openings appears in Fig. 2 It is pointed out that the loops 23 of the ladder tapes are in no manner physically attached to the tilting rail as by means of brads or tacks but have at this time only a hanging support therefrom.

The parts as shown in either Fig. 6 or '7, and which are fixed to the cord portions 21-21, are manipulated to close them. That is the members 30 or 3011 are moved into the full line position shown in Figs. 6 and 7 and wherein they form longitudinal extensions for the associated sleeve. With the members in their so-called closed position, each one is inserted through an opening 23a in the 100p 23 of its associated tape l 3 and through the associated opening I la in the tilting rail in line with aid opening 23a. Thereafter said end portions 21 of the operating cord are pulled through said openings the desired distance or length, which is one substantially equal to the length of the respective tapes. Said rail is now replaced so that its trunnions l5 and i6 operatively bear in the brackets 11 and I8.

The foot rail I2 is now placed in the lower end loop 24a of both ladder tapes so that certain opening I2al2a (only one of which appears in Fig. 2) coincide or align with the openings 24a in said loop ends of the ladder tapes. Thus, the tapes now support the foot rail, which in no manner is physically attached to said rail as by brads or tacks.

With the parts arranged as thus far describedthey are now disposed in a convenient and advantageous position for the insertion of the slats [4 into operative engagement with their respective supporting rungs or cross pieces 2525 of the tapes |3l3 so that certain transverse openings l4al4a (one of which appears in Fig. 3) are disposed in the plane of the cord passageway as provided by the rungs or cross pieces 25-25.

With the slats I 4-H and foot rail thus supported from the tapes I3-l3, the members on the cord portions are inserted-through the openings l4a-l4a in the succesive slats l4, beginning with the topmost one, through to the bottommost one, and then through the openings 12a in the foot rail !2 and through the openings 24a in the loop ends 24 of the tapes to a point below the same. Each member 30 (or SM) may now be turned to its open position and wherein it extends across said opening so as to prevent the upward withdrawal from said tapes and foot rail. It is obvious that the cord portions 21 in connec tion with the sleeve 28 prevent endwise shifting or turning of the tilting rail and the foot rail with respect to the tapes and which are in no manner physically attached to either rail as by means of tacks or brads.

The blind as a whole is now assembled and ready for operation. From the above it is obvious that assembly has been accomplished without the aid of tools of any kind and without the necessity of making any direct physical attach ment of the tapes to either the tilting or to the foot rail, as by means of special clips or as by means of tacking the loops 2324 of the tapes to said rails.

By pulling upon the loop of the cord 26, the cord portions 21-21 are drawn upwardly and with the members 30 (or 30a) engaged with the foot rail and tape loops 24 as before explained, said foot rail is drawn upwardly to pick up the lowermost slats in the usual manner.

It is obvious that the ladder tapes are in no manner physically attached as by tacks, brads or special clips to any part of the entire blind structure, but are held against endwise shifting and circumferential slipping or creeping about the tilting and foot rails by means of only the operating cord.

By manipulating the cord loop 20 the slats may be tilted to the desired inclination, as in any conventional blind arrangement.

Should the blind structure become soiled or damaged, it may be readily taken apart. To do this each blind is first lowered to its full length. The members 30 (or 30a) are then swung into position so that when a pull is imparted to the cord 26, they will pass up through the openings in the tape portions 24 and in the foot rail, slats, tilting rail and other tape portions 23. The foot rail and the slats may now be removed from the tapes, the tilting rail removed from its brackets I! and I8 and the tapes then slipped endwise 01f said tilting rail.

It is to be noted that the Venetian blind described is equipped with endless ladder tapes, which are not physically attached to either the tilting rail or to the foot rail.

With the construction described, it is obivous that the blind may be readily taken apart for cleaning or repair or replacement of parts and this without the aid of tools of any kind and by a person not necessarily skilled in the Venetian blind art.

While in describing the invention I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the parts involved, the same is to be considered only in the illustrative sense so that I do not wish to b limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with the raising and lowering cord ofa Venetian blind that includes a foot rail having an opening therein, means for detachably connecting one end of said cord to said foot rail, and including a member attached to the cord and swingable from a position substantially in line with the cord to facilitate passage through said opening in said foot rail to a position crosswise of the cord to prevent its withdrawal through said opening.

2. In combination with the raising and lowering cord of a Venetian blind that includes a foot rail having an opening therein, means for detachably connecting one end of said cord to said foot rail and embodying therein a sleeve attached to and forming a longitudinal continuation of said end of said cord, and a member pivotally connected to said sleeve and swingable from a position parallel with said sleeve for passage therewith through said opening in said foot rail to a position extending across and preventing its withdrawal through said opening.

3. In combination with the raising and lowering cord of a Venetian blind that includes a foot rail having an opening therein, means for detachably connecting one end of said cord to said foot rail and embodying therein a sleeve attached to and forming a longitudinal continuation of said end of said cord, and a member pivotally connected to said sleeve and swingable from a position embracing an outer portion of said sleeve for passage therewith through said opening in said foot rail to a position extending across and preventing its withdrawal through said opening.

4. A Venetian blind embodying therein tilting and root rails each having openings therein, slats and endless loop-like ladder tapes, each tape including spaced sides and connecting end loops each having an opening therethrough, one end loop of each tape passing about the top of but physically unattached to the tilting rail and by which said tapes are supported, the other end loop of each tape passing about the bottom of but physically unattached to the foot rail for supporting the same, means extending between the spaced sides of each tape for the sup ort of said slats, and a raising and lowering cord having portions one for each tape, each cord portion passing through said slats and through certain of said openings in said rails and through said openings in said end loops of the associated tape and forming the sole means for preventing displacement of said tapes relative to said rails.

5. A Venetian blind embodying therein tilting and foot rails each having openings therein, slats and endless loop-like ladder tapes, each tape including spaced sides and integral end loops each having an opening therethrough, one integral end loop of each tape passing about the top of but physically unattached to the tilting rail and by which said tapes are supported, the other integral end loop of each tape passing about the bottom of but physically unattached to the foot rail for supporting the same, means extending between the spaced sides of each tape for the support of said slats, and a raising and lowering cord having portions, one for each tape, each cord portion passing through said slats and through certain of said openings in said rails and through said openings in said end loops of the associated tape and forming the sole means for preventing displacement of said tapes relative to said rails.

6. A Venetian blind embodying therein tilting and foot rails each having openings therein, slats and ladder tapes, each tape including spaced sides and end loops, one end loop of each tape passing about the top of but physically unattached to the tilting rail and by which said tapes are supported, the other end loop of each tape passing about the bottom of but physically unattached to the foot rail for supporting the same, means extending between opposite sides of each tape for the support of said slats, and at raising and lowering cord having portions, one for each tape, each cord portion passing through said slats and through certain of said openings in said rails and end loops of the associated tape and forming the sole means for preventing displacement of said tapes relative to said rails, and means carried by the bottom end of each cord portion adapted to pass through an opening in the foot rail and end loop of the tape associated therewith and turnable to a position crossing said opening to prevent its withdrawal therethrough.

7. A ladder tape for a Venetian blind comprising an endless loop-like tape member having spaced side portions and connecting end loop portions, means connecting the spaced side portions of said tape member and forming slat supporting rungs therefor, the end loop portions each having an opening therein for the passage therethrough of a blind operating cord portion.

8. A Venetian blind embodying therein a tilting rail and a Ioot rail, equipped with endless looplike ladder tapes each including spaced sides and connecting end loops and which loops pass about said tilting rail and said foot rail but are not physically attached to either of said rails.

9. A Venetian blind embodying therein a tilting rail and a foot rail and slats arranged therebetween, said rails and slats having parts with sets of alined openings therein, endless loop-like ladder tapes each having spaced sides and top and bottom loops connecting the associated ends of said sides and which loops are trained about but are physically unattached to said parts of said rails, the top and bottom loops of each tape each having openings therein that register with each set of openings in said rails and slats respectively, and a raising and lowering cord having ortions each passing through a set of openings in said rails and slats as well as through the resgistering openings in the top and bottom end loops of said tapes and retaining said tapes against either a longitudinal or a lateral shiftin relative to said rails.

PAUL LIPPERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 141,286 Metcalf July 29, 1878 328,286 Carr Oct. 13, 1885 2,292,001 Wright Aug. 4, 1942 197,009 Becker Nov. 13, 1877 

